Jonathan Fay
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Fay is an Argentina
-born, American
software developer who writes software for Astronomy
, imaging and visualization. He is the Principal Software Developer for WorldWide Telescope
in the Microsoft Research Next Media Group. He was Lead Developer for Microsoft Image Composer and other imaging products at Microsoft. He has patents and patent applications in imaging, visualization and information security.
Fay's first entry in the commercial software market came in 1982 at the age of 16 with the introduction of Chart-EX, one of the first applications designed to make charts from business spread sheets on a personal computer. It was marketed by LNW Computers for the LNW-80
and which touted what was at the time high-resolution graphics: 480x192 in 8 colors. Fay also produced LNW's Demo software that included a lunar landing simulator which had views of a spinning Earth from space foreshadowing things to come.
Fay joined Microsoft in 1993 working for Microsoft Consulting Services. While trying to help clients solve memory problems deploying Windows 3.1 in corporate network environments he discovered that the common "Out of Memory" messages that many Windows users received even when there seemed to be plenty of free memory and few applications were running, were not actually a fundamental windows limitation, but a hiccup from Windows past: all applications needed 512 bytes of RAM in DOS memory for a Task Database Entry. This limitation seemed like it could potentially choke adoption of Microsoft Windows and Office in corporate network environment. Fay's solution was a program called stryper, later renamed memvalet, that would purposely fragment a portion of DOS low memory to allow the room for many applications to run.
In 2001 while the development manager for MSN HomeAdvisor, Fay, inspired by Researcher Tom Barclay's inquiry about how USGS DEM
data could be used on Microsoft TerraServer-USA
, create a zoom able 3D Earth viewer with adaptive subdivision using data from NASA Blue Marble, USGS and TerraServer. He soon wondered how useful such a platform would be to view the sky if flipped inside out. This helped lead to the eventual development of the VEE
and WorldWide Telescope
client application.
In February 2006 Fay joined the Microsoft Next Media Research group led by Curtis Wong. Wong had been helped Jim Gray create the Sky Server website and was interested in creating an educational tool for astronomy. The two collaborated with Gray, astronomer Alex Szalay and astronomer Alyssa A. Goodman
to create the first version of the WorldWide Telescope application that was shown by Rick Rashid in his keynote at MSR TechFest in March 2007, shortly after Gray's disappearance.
Fay is an avid amateur astronomer who has made significant contributions to the development of DSLR astrophotography. He authored software to allow traditional astrophotography packaged to control DSLR cameras under the demands of low-light high dynamic range in astrophotography. His software has been used by noted astrophotographer such as Jack B. Newton
showing that DSLR acquired image could rival or equal traditional cooled cameras.
Fay is a significant contributor to the ASCOM
standard for control of astronomical equipment. During his work on the WorldWide Telescope ASCOM client he created the reference .NET prototype classes that led to the ASCOM Version 5 redesign.
Fay designed, built and operates Bear Creek Observatory in Woodinville, Washington
. The observatory was designed as a proving ground for observatory automation as well as an astronomy education outreach resource.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
-born, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
software developer who writes software for Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, imaging and visualization. He is the Principal Software Developer for WorldWide Telescope
WorldWide Telescope
The WorldWide Telescope is a computer program created by Microsoft that displays the astronomical sky as maps, the 3D Universe, visualised data sets and animations. It was announced at the TED Conference in Monterey, California in February 2008. Users are able to pan around outer space and zoom as...
in the Microsoft Research Next Media Group. He was Lead Developer for Microsoft Image Composer and other imaging products at Microsoft. He has patents and patent applications in imaging, visualization and information security.
Fay's first entry in the commercial software market came in 1982 at the age of 16 with the introduction of Chart-EX, one of the first applications designed to make charts from business spread sheets on a personal computer. It was marketed by LNW Computers for the LNW-80
LNW-80
The LNW-80, released in 1982, is the first computer built by LNW Research. The computer is 100% compatible with the Tandy TRS-80 Model 1, but has some hardware enhancements. Most notable are the high-resolution color graphics, which could also be used for a 80×24 screen, with a special software...
and which touted what was at the time high-resolution graphics: 480x192 in 8 colors. Fay also produced LNW's Demo software that included a lunar landing simulator which had views of a spinning Earth from space foreshadowing things to come.
Fay joined Microsoft in 1993 working for Microsoft Consulting Services. While trying to help clients solve memory problems deploying Windows 3.1 in corporate network environments he discovered that the common "Out of Memory" messages that many Windows users received even when there seemed to be plenty of free memory and few applications were running, were not actually a fundamental windows limitation, but a hiccup from Windows past: all applications needed 512 bytes of RAM in DOS memory for a Task Database Entry. This limitation seemed like it could potentially choke adoption of Microsoft Windows and Office in corporate network environment. Fay's solution was a program called stryper, later renamed memvalet, that would purposely fragment a portion of DOS low memory to allow the room for many applications to run.
In 2001 while the development manager for MSN HomeAdvisor, Fay, inspired by Researcher Tom Barclay's inquiry about how USGS DEM
DEM
- Codes :* DEM, the ISO 4217 code for Deutsche Mark, the former currency of Germany- Computing :* Digital elevation model, a digital representation of ground surface topography or terrain** .dem, a common extension for USGS DEM files...
data could be used on Microsoft TerraServer-USA
TerraServer-USA
Microsoft Research Maps or MSR Maps is a free online repository of public domain aerial imagery and topographic maps provided by the U.S. Geological Survey . The site is a collaboration between Microsoft Research , Bing Maps, and the USGS. It has been under continuous operation since June 1998. It...
, create a zoom able 3D Earth viewer with adaptive subdivision using data from NASA Blue Marble, USGS and TerraServer. He soon wondered how useful such a platform would be to view the sky if flipped inside out. This helped lead to the eventual development of the VEE
VEE
VEE or Vee may refer to:* "Vee", common English pronunciation of V, the twenty-second letter in the Latin alphabet* VEE, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis virus, a mosquito-borne viral horse pathogen...
and WorldWide Telescope
WorldWide Telescope
The WorldWide Telescope is a computer program created by Microsoft that displays the astronomical sky as maps, the 3D Universe, visualised data sets and animations. It was announced at the TED Conference in Monterey, California in February 2008. Users are able to pan around outer space and zoom as...
client application.
In February 2006 Fay joined the Microsoft Next Media Research group led by Curtis Wong. Wong had been helped Jim Gray create the Sky Server website and was interested in creating an educational tool for astronomy. The two collaborated with Gray, astronomer Alex Szalay and astronomer Alyssa A. Goodman
Alyssa A. Goodman
Alyssa Ann Goodman is Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University, a Research Associate of the Smithsonian Institution, and the Founding Director of the Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing. Goodman and her research group at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge,...
to create the first version of the WorldWide Telescope application that was shown by Rick Rashid in his keynote at MSR TechFest in March 2007, shortly after Gray's disappearance.
Fay is an avid amateur astronomer who has made significant contributions to the development of DSLR astrophotography. He authored software to allow traditional astrophotography packaged to control DSLR cameras under the demands of low-light high dynamic range in astrophotography. His software has been used by noted astrophotographer such as Jack B. Newton
Jack B. Newton
John "Jack" Borden Newton is a Canadian astronomer known worldwide for his publications and images in amateur astrophotography both in film and CCD. Newton took his first astrophotograph when he was 13 years old of the planet Saturn...
showing that DSLR acquired image could rival or equal traditional cooled cameras.
Fay is a significant contributor to the ASCOM
ASCOM (standard)
ASCOM is an open initiative to provide a standard interface to a range of astronomy equipment including mounts, focusers and imaging devices in a Microsoft Windows environment....
standard for control of astronomical equipment. During his work on the WorldWide Telescope ASCOM client he created the reference .NET prototype classes that led to the ASCOM Version 5 redesign.
Fay designed, built and operates Bear Creek Observatory in Woodinville, Washington
Woodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
. The observatory was designed as a proving ground for observatory automation as well as an astronomy education outreach resource.